Associate Director - Project Finance Advisory - Energy, Utilities & Water

Are you seeking a career move in to project finance within a high performing regulated utilities team at a large, global consultancy? If yes, here are some more important questions you need to be able to also answer 'Yes' to:

• Are you familiar with senior debt products and how banks price and size their debt?
• Do you have some experience of cash flow lending and how banks assess cash flows and cover ratios?
• Do you understand the risk profile of a regulated UK utilities asset, such as a water treatment plant, water desalinisation plant, a gas or electricity network?
• Are you knowledgeable on one or more of the regulations of the following utilities assets: Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC), Offshore Transmission Owners (OFTOs), Competitively Appointed Transmission Owners (CATO), electricity interconnectors and/or Regulatory Alliance for the Progression of Infrastructure (RAPID).
• Do you have strong Excel modelling skills with regards to an infrastructure asset type from any sector? Can you open a model, read and understand the model, understand how a calculation operates throughout the model and identify where the errors are in the model?

If you answered 'Yes' to the above questions then please read on as this could be your opportunity to make the move in to project finance, which you have always wanted.

The company:

Our client's Energy & Utilities team is the largest business area of their broader Infrastructure Group and they provide advisory services for many major clients in the sector, including all UK utilities as well as some of the largest energy and water companies in Europe. They provide provide in-depth strategic and technical advice on strategy and business planning and analysis, regulatory finance, corporate finance and corporate financial management, regulatory policy as well as in other areas to help their clients create value for both shareholders and customers.

The position:

Due to the fast growth of this Energy & Utilities Projects team our client is seeking a superb Associate Director to bring leadership support on projects covering water and energy infrastructure including new nuclear generation, onshore and offshore networks, interconnectors, and other major assets.

The Projects business is focussed on designing new markets and advising on in-house and competitive delivery models for major infrastructure projects and programmes. They advise companies, developers, bidders and regulators on all aspects of delivering major infrastructure assets and competitive procurements. Some of the projects we have advised on include Hinkley Point C, Thames Tideway, multiple Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) projects, OFTOs, Special Infrastructure Projects Regime (SIPR), Cap and Floor Interconnectors, Competitively Appointed Transmission Owners (CATOs) and new nuclear projects (NNPs).

Services provided by the Projects team include:

• Strategic and policy advise to major developers, bidders and other stakeholders, including government bodies and regulators on delivering utilities infrastructure and in particular large projects.
• Design of bespoke delivery models — this includes funding models, financing strategy and structures, Government or third party support packages, and State aid / UK subsidy control approval strategy and applications.
• Market analysis and benchmarking of sector and key players including supply chain and technology.
• Business case preparation for various stakeholder approvals and grant applications.
• All aspects of financial advice on major infrastructure projects.
• Raising of finance (development capital, equity and debt).
• Financial modelling and scenarios analysis.
• Their work for bidders includes advising on bidding strategy, bid response preparation including commercial and financial bid responses, finance competition, coordination with lenders, and supporting on contract negotiations.

Responsibilities:

• Leading financial advice on large and complex projects.
• Leading client engagements on a day-to-day basis.
• Managing our advice on engagements typically involving several different; work-streams and specialist teams.
• Producing, reviewing and overseeing development of high quality client outputs.
• Operating at the senior management and higher level with developers, investors and regulators.
• Building enduring client relationships and becoming the go to person for our clients on structuring and financing major projects.
• Developing sector specific market intelligence.
• Identifying and recruiting talent.
• Coaching and mentoring other staff.
• Being a role model for less experienced staff and for the firm's values.
• Providing senior leadership to people providing financial advice on projects.

Candidate requirements:

The person our client is looking for will have a very good understanding of utilities and energy sectors in the UK, with a special focus on the utilities infrastructure and major projects. The candidate should also have a good track record of working in financial advisory, including leading and mentoring teams, and both winning and delivering advisory services, supported by a proven reputation in the sector. The role also involves bringing together different advisory services to identify opportunities, developing and maintaining strong relationships with key players in the sector while working closely with other parts of the firm's Deal team, to originate and structure our combined utilities infrastructure offering.

• Expertise in financial advice.
• In depth knowledge and experience of working on major projects.
• Understanding of key value drivers in projects including policy, regulation, financing, investments, markets etc.
• Ability to identify and analyse key value drivers for projects.
• Skilled in financial modelling and complex financial analysis. A good understanding of scenario modelling and risk analysis.
• Understanding of typical financial structures and financing solutions in the sector.
• Experience of investment appraisal, development/build of financial models.
• Experience working in professional services, including managing a team, and both winning and delivering advisory services.
• Being comfortable managing staff and stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines including economics, finance, legal, and engineering.
• Understanding of key value drivers in infrastructure projects including policy, regulatory and market framework, financing, delivery, operations etc.
• Assured and experienced in a client and market facing role.
• Being an independent thinker with the ability to identify and solve problems.
• Strong presentation and communications skills.
• Skills successfully to develop and manage client relationships; and strong commercial awareness.

Our client is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from a range of diverse backgrounds. They also have opportunities for role sharing / part time work, flexible working hours, work from home and more flexible working arrangements. They provide a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

We look forward to your application!

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